Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Google Alert - android

News10 new results for android
 
Samsung details Android 4.0 phone, tablet upgrades for US carriers
Computerworld
By Matt Hamblen Computerworld - Samsung posted a list Tuesday detailing which Samsung phones and tablets sold by US carriers will eventually receive an upgrade to Android 4.0, or Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS). The list confirms some smartphones and tablets ...
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Samsung Releases Ice Cream Sandwich Upgrade List
PCWorld
By Daniel Ionescu, PCWorld Apr 24, 2012 6:49 AM Many of Samsung's smartphones and tablets released in the US will receive an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, with a couple of notable exceptions. While newer Samsung Android phones will be ...
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Eric Schmidt talks Android, search revenue in Oracle-Google IP trial
ZDNet (blog)
The linchpin to Boies's line of questioning this time revolved around the search and advertising revenue benefits that Android offered to Google after it was acquired in 2005. Boies called up a presentation that has been cited as evidence in the ...
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The Android Update Trap
PCWorld
Updating your version of the Android operating system can cause more problems than it solves. Be careful what you wish for. By Jared Newman, PCWorld Samsung Galaxy S II smartphoneThe Samsung Galaxy S II was supposed to be David Petty's dream phone.
See all stories on this topic »
Android chief Andy Rubin said java.lang APIs are copyrighted in 2006 email
CNET
Over the next several years his thinking changed. by Dan Farber April 23, 2012 1:29 PM PDT Follow @dbfarber As the second week of the Oracle-Google trial got underway Monday, Andy Rubin, the man behind the Android platform, took his turn on the witness ...
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Rubin's last stand: Android founder testifies again to save Android from Oracle
VentureBeat
Android is on trial today in San Francisco, and its founder, Googler Andy Rubin, is stepping into the witness stand to save it from a slow death by patent litigation. The crux of Rubin's testimony today revolved around the greatest of all Android ...
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'No permission' Android apps can see and share your data
NewsNet5.com
The Galaxy Nexus from Google and Samsung, a smartphone that arrived in Verizon Wireless stores on Thursday, December 15, 2011, is the first Google Android phone without four buttons below the screen. By Amy Gahran Special to CNN Savvy Android users ...
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NewsNet5.com
Google to Sell Android Phones Online Again After Flop
BusinessWeek
By Brian Womack on April 24, 2012 Google Inc. (GOOG) (GOOG), owner of the world's largest search engine, will begin selling an Android handset made by Samsung Electronics Co. (005930) about two years after the company ended an earlier effort to sell ...
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Samsung devices confirmed for Android 4.0 don't include one Galaxy S II
Ars Technica
By Casey Johnston | Published April 24, 2012 10:22 AM Samsung released a list of carrier-specific device models that will be updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich in a FAQ Tuesday. While a bunch of recently released devices on AT&T, Verizon, ...
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Eric Schmidt denies Google needed anyone's permission to use Java in Android
VentureBeat
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt (pictured) gave testimony today to try to save Android from Oracle's clutches — and from extinction via stiff per-device licensing fees. In Oracle's ongoing lawsuit with Google over Android, Oracle's attorneys today ...
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VentureBeat

Blogs5 new results for android
 
Google Drive revealed: Dropbox beware | Android Community
By Michael Crider
News and leaks on Google Drive has reached a fever pitch, with most of the information pointing to 5 gigabytes of free storage and integration on Android and.
Android Community
Android Trojan Can Track Your Keystrokes Using Motion Sensors
By Kyle Wagner
Smartphones work very hard to keep your keystrokes secure, but now there's a new way for malware to get at them. Researchers at IBM and Penn State have developed a new kind of trojan that tracks what you type into your phone using only ...
Gizmodo
Yammer Updates iOS And Android Apps, Adds Universal Search ...
By Leena Rao
Yammer Updates iOS And Android Apps, Adds Universal Search And More To Enterprise Social Network. Leena Rao. posted 4 hours ago. Comments. View Staff Page. Leena Rao currently works as a writer for TechCrunch. She recently ...
TechCrunch
Nova Launcher For Android 4.0 Devices Adds A Handful Of New ...
By Chris Chavez
With Sprint Galaxy Nexus pre-orders selling out before its release on Sunday, that means there are more Android 4.0 users out there than ever before. If.
Android Phone Fans
Android Chief Squirms Under Questioning - Business Insider
By Matt Rosoff
Once upon a time, Andy Rubin thought Google needed a license to use Java in Android.
SAI


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Android Authority

Android Authority


LG ships Optimus 3D Max in Germany, tries to prove 3D is still alive

Posted: 24 Apr 2012 03:18 AM PDT

It's been a good three years since Avatar ignited a 3D boom in the entertainment and tech industry. Though the 3D hype didn't really translate into sales for many manufacturers that tried to 3D-ify everything, LG thinks there's still room for a new 3D smartphone, the LG Optimus 3D Max.

Don't be fooled by the last part of the name, because the phone actually lost in the thickness and weight department. The LG Optimus 3D Max comes in a thinner 9.6mm body and weighs 20 g less than its predecessor. Just like its predecessor, the LG Optimus 3D, this second generation 3D gizmo from LG doesn't require users to wear special glasses to view 3D images and videos.

In the innards department, the LG Optimus 3D Max is powered by the same dual-core TI OMAP 4430 found on the OG Optimus, but it's now clocked higher at 1.2GHz. The 3D Max also stagnates in term of display technology, with LG opting for the same 800 x 480 pixels packed in a 4.3 inch dispaly. The Optimus 3D Max has two 5MP rear cameras (for shooting 3D imagery) and a VGA front camera, while the RAM on the phone has been doubled to 1GB. Again disappointing, the device will only ship with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, with the now customary promises from LG of a timely update to ICS.

On to the phone’s claim to fame, LG has equipped the Optimus 3D Max with a new 3D converter, which allows you to convert content from Google Earth and Google Maps to 3D. You can also use the phone to edit 3D video in real time. Neat, if you’re a 3D maniac, right?

The other 3D phone player in the market, HTC, is not planning to update its EVO 3D line any time soon. While alleged pictures of a sequel to the HTC EVO 3D, which has been discontinued by the Taiwanese, were spotted earlier this month, they were likely images of a prototype of the upcoming HTC EVO 4G LTE, and the 3D feature didn't make the final cut. Samsung has also mentioned that it's not interested in releasing a 3D phone in the coming future.

LG's glass-free Optimus 3D Max was released yesterday in Germany, with more countries to follow, but according to Engadget Mobile, the UK will not be on of them. The 3D enabled device was spotted in the mandatory FCC filings, which makes us believe that the 3D Max will also grace American shores sometimes soon, probably on AT&T.

More details about the LG Optimus 3D Max in the press release below:

Show full PR text

LG LAUNCHES SECOND-GENERATION 3D SMARTPHONE IN EUROPE
SEOUL, Apr. 23, 2012 – LG’s latest achievement in the glasses-free 3D space — the Optimus 3D Max — will kick-off its global roll-out today starting in Europe. As first seen at Mobile World Congress 2012, the second-generation 3D smartphone boasts an enhanced chipset and more enticing 3D entertainment features in a slimmer and lighter body.

“We are deliberately pushing the limits of mobile entertainment innovation with the Op-timus 3D Max,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “This device has evolved significantly since we introduced the first Optimus 3D at Mobile World Congress in 2011. Our second generation glasses-free 3D smartphone is as thin and light as any other high-end smartphone while still de-livering a spectacular picture in either 2D or 3D.”

The Optimus 3D Max now includes a new 3D Converter which allows for a greater va-riety of 3D content as it converts 2D content from Google Earth, Google Maps and oth-er mapping apps into 3D. Visitors at MWC 2012 also raved about the device’s unique 3D video editor which allows the editing of 3D video on the phone in real time. And the 3D Hot Key mounted on the side of the phone enables users to easily toggle between 2D and 3D. The Optimus 3D Max includes 3D-style cubicle icons in addition to its customizable icons which can be amended by applying the users’ own photos through the Icon Customizer feature.

Additional features, which will be available through an upcoming maintenance release (MR), include a HD Converter to offer high resolution content to be viewed on a TV connected through MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) and Range Finder, which cal-culates the distance between the camera and a subject as well as the dimensions of an object through triangulation.

As for its new form-factor, the Optimus 3D Max is 2mm slimmer and 20g lighter than its predecessor, measuring only 9.6 mm thin and weighing 148g. The 5MP camera on the rear captures both photos and video in 3D using its dual lenses. The recorded material can be viewed directly on the smartphone in glasses-free 3D or on a 3D capable computer monitor or TV.

Key Specifications:
• Chipset: 1.2GHz Dual-Core processor (OMAP4430)
• Display: 4.3-inch 3D WVGA Display with Corning Gorilla Glass 2
• Memory: 8GB Internal Storage, 1GB Internal Memory, Micro SD support
(up to 32GB)
• Camera: 2 x 5MP rear-facing, VGA front-facing
• OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
• Battery: 1,520 mAh
• Others: HSPA + 21Mbps
HDMI connection 2D/3D TV/monitor up to 1080p via MHL
DNLA for wireless connection with TV/PC (3D video also supported)
NFC Full Support, LG Tag+


This article, LG ships Optimus 3D Max in Germany, tries to prove 3D is still alive , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Sony Xperia P and Xperia U release delayed in UK, to launch on May 28

Posted: 24 Apr 2012 02:54 AM PDT

xperia p xperia u

Unveiled back in February at the MWC, Sony's Xperia P and Xperia U Android-based smartphones didn't exactly look like a duo to die for. With beautiful designs, but rather modest specs and an almost inexplicable ICS omission, the two devices were received with mixed feelings by pundits and regular users. And if the lackluster innards of the two Xperias didn’t provide enough reasons for dissatisfaction, the Xperia P and U have just had their UK release delayed.

Initially set to hit the British market on May 7, the two sleek gadgets from Sony will start shipping three weeks later, on May 28. If you're still bent to purchase one of these thingies and this new delay doesn't put you off, you should know that Clove is currently taking pre-orders in the United Kingdom.

The Xperia U will ship in classic black and white, while the P will be made available in silver and black for £170 and £275 respectively (£204 and £330, VAT included). All prices are for unlocked phones, so you might get a better deal if you sign up for a contract.

Both Xperia phones will be powered by identical dual-core 1 GHz processors and will run Android 2.3 Gingerbread out of the box, with "planned" upgrades to Ice Cream Sandwich set to take place sometime in the near future.

The Xperia P will sport a 4-inch LCD capacitive touchscreen with 960 x 540 pixels resolution, along with 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of on-board storage, as well as an 8 MP rear-facing shooter, a VGA front-facing camera, NFC, HDMI and DLNA connectivity.

As you might already know (or at least suspect), the Xperia U will sport a smaller 3.5-inch screen with 854 x 480 pixels resolution and will feature just 512 MB of RAM, 4 GB of internal memory, and a 5 MP rear-facing camera, with a VGA front-facing webcam. On the outside, aside from the obvious difference in size, the two will look almost identical.

Neither of the two smartphones have confirmed release dates or official prices next to their names for the rest of the Europe or the United States, but I personally would expect them to be made available worldwide sometime in late May or early June.

Are you guys excited about the Xperia P and U? Hit us back with a comment and let us know!


This article, Sony Xperia P and Xperia U release delayed in UK, to launch on May 28 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


HTC One V to be released by Bell Canada on May 3rd

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 01:40 PM PDT

With the HTC One X set to become the most powerful Android-based smartphone these days (at least until the Galaxy S3 and the LG D1L will be released) and the One S providing a very good balance between decent specs and affordability, the third smartphone in HTC's new line has been kind of ignored by many tech geeks.

The One V should, however, be on a lot of shopping lists nowadays, as it promises to come with a very sleek profile, Android ICS under the hood, and a dirt-cheap price. The 3.7-incher has already been released in select European markets, alongside its bigger brothers, while Northern American customers are still waiting to hear about the phone's availability.

In Canada, the One V could hit the market as soon as May 3, if we are to believe a fresh rumor from MobileSyrup. The rumor is based on a leaked internal document from mobile carrier Bell, where you can clearly see the phone listed as launching on Thursday, May 03, 2012.

HTC's One V should be made available in Canada by TELUS as well, but we are unsure whether it will hit the shelves on the same date as the Bell device.

As far as pricing is concerned, we have nothing official to report, but rumors point towards a $250-$300 price tag without contract. The phone will surely be made available for even less with a standard carrier contract and I personally don't think it's impossible to see the One V go for as less as 50 bucks in Canada, as well as in the US.

Those of you who missed this little guy's introduction a couple of months ago should know that the HTC One V is powered by a 1 GHz single-core Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon processor and features 512 MB of RAM, as well as 4 GB of on-board storage. With a very slim profile and a body highly resembling the One X and S, the V will sport a 3.7-inch WVGA display with 480 x 800 pixels resolution and is set to come with a 5 MP rear-facing camera, Beats Audio technology, Android ICS, and Sense 4 UI.

Stay tuned on our website in the coming weeks to find out more about the phone’s availability and pricing, both in Canada and in the United States!


This article, HTC One V to be released by Bell Canada on May 3rd , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


87 million 4G devices to be sold during 2012, 300% increase over 2011

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 01:20 PM PDT

4G-LTE

According to a recent report from ABI Research, an estimated 87 million 4G-enabled devices will be sold during 2012, marking a whopping 297% increase year over year. As the WiMax standard was abandoned by operators worldwide, 2012 is shaping up to be the year of LTE-enabled devices, ranging from USB dongles to smartphones, tablets, and 4G portable hotspots.

The report estimates that out of the 87 million 4G devices estimated to be shipped by the end of the year, 70% will be handsets (meaning smartphones and tablets). According to Philip Solis, research director of mobile devices for ABI Research: "[…], in addition to 61 million 4G handsets being shipped in 2012, we estimate 26 million 4G non-handset products will be shipped. In the short-term, most of that will reflect customers purchasing USB dongles for legacy laptops and netbooks, followed by customer premise equipment, or home modem, purchases."

In contrast, carriers in Western Europe claim that their customers are not exactly eager to jump on the 4G data bandwagon, although they are generally aware that LTE brings significantly improved download and upload speeds when compared to the 3G standard. The obvious reason for this reluctance is that current 3G customers feel like the upgrade in data speeds does not justify the major bump in tariffs.

Nevertheless, according to the report, this mentality will change in the future, as HD streaming becomes increasingly more appealing for smartphone and tablet users. Both the carrier-imposed LTE data tariffs, as well as the prices for 4G-enabled devices are expected to decrease by up to 20% over the next couple of years, due to the increasing market competition.

What are your opinions regarding LTE networks? Does the increase in data download/upload speed provided by LTE connectivity justify the bump in tariffs? Is the price/performance ratio of current 3G networks enough to satisfy your data thirst these days? Drop us a line in the comment section below!

No related posts.


This article, 87 million 4G devices to be sold during 2012, 300% increase over 2011 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Supposed Galaxy S3 benchmark results spotted, soundly beats the competition

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 12:37 PM PDT

galaxy s3 background

The Samsung Galaxy S3 rumor train is chugging along, with Samsung’s teaser video of the “next Galaxy” giving us absolutely no information about the device itself.

We have all heard about how Samsung is using disguised prototypes when sending out the Galaxy S3 for network testing in an effort to stop the inevitable design leaks that occur during this phase. But as required in network testing, the internal hardware of the prototype is the same as the final device, which has led to a lot of specification leaks.

We apparently now have GL Benchmark test results of the GT-i9300 (rumored to be the Galaxy S3). A user found the test results online, took a screenshot, and sent it to PhoneArena, before the entry was removed. If the results are to be believed, it seems that Samsung is set to blow the competition out of the water.

PhoneArena compared the scores of the GT-i9300 with the GL Benchmark test scores for the HTC One X, the iPhone 4s, and the iPad 3 with the following surprising results:

  • The ARM Mali-400 GPU in this device, which clocked over 400MHz, provides a far superior performance than the GPU in its predecessor, the Galaxy S2. This would easily make it one of the fastest smartphones of 2012.
  • The overclocked GPU of the “Galaxy S3″ helped beat out, by a small margin, the dual-core PowerVR GPU featured in the Apple iPhone 4S.
  • The Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core HTC One X houses a mobile GeForce graphics processor, which seems tame compared to Samsung’s Exynos processor and the Mali-400 GPU.
  • The quad-core PowerVR GPU of the iPad 3, required to power its impressive retina display, still remains the leader of the pack. But, the GT-i9300 did perform extremely well against the iPad GPU.

To summarize, the above results prove that the “next Galaxy” will likely meet most of our expectations and will likely be one of the best, if not the best Android smartphone released this year. If you haven’t caught the teaser trailer of the Samsung Galaxy S3, you can watch it here.

Samsung is certainly raising the expectations we have from the device, and with the above benchmark results, it seems that it may hold up its promises. What are your thoughts? Real benchmark results or just another rumor? What are you doing on May 3? Let us know in the comments section below.

No related posts.


This article, Supposed Galaxy S3 benchmark results spotted, soundly beats the competition , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


New Samsung Jasper smartphone shows up, sports 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 and ICS

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 12:22 PM PDT

Let's take a breather from the spectacle that is Samsung Galaxy S3 and check out what other smartphones the company is apparently cooking up.

A new breed of Samsung phone with model number SCH-i200 has inconspicuously made its way to Bluetooth SIG's website, which was then picked up by the folks at Pocket Now. Using the model number, they were able to get more information about the phone, thanks to an entry on GLBenchmark website.

What we have here is a phone that shows a strange mix of high-and low-end specs. Codenamed Jasper, the Samsung phone will boast a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor and a WVGA display. So it's essentially a phone that has the HTC One X' chip and HTC One V' display, though it's not clear yet how big the screen will be. Apart from the known chip and resolution, the mysterious phone is expected to run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

The test device used on the benchmark site apparently runs on the Verizon network, so it's safe to assume that Jasper will come with LTE support. It'll be interesting to see how Samsung will market this device amidst the impending arrival of the Galaxy S3, but the Jasper may end up becoming a cheaper alternative – albeit a powerful one — for those who don't want to cough up the dough to get the company's flagship device.


This article, New Samsung Jasper smartphone shows up, sports 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 and ICS , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Samsung Galaxy S3 International Giveaway!

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 06:50 AM PDT

Our love for Android is unquenchable. Our loyalty to you, our readers, unfathomable. Are you excited for the next Galaxy phone?

With the Samsung Galaxy S3 launch date just around the corner, we thought it would be nice to give you, yes you, a chance to win what is likely to one of the best Android phones of 2012. We are anticipating the new Galaxy phone to be released to the public sometime near the end of May, and will ship the lucky winner the Samsung Galaxy S3 as quick as we can!

The countdown is on!

This countdown represents how much time you (and us) have to wait until the next Galaxy device is formally launched on May 3rd, at 7:00PM, in London. Please note the giveaway will last 30days after which time the giveaway closes and we will select a winner at random. See how much time is left in the giveaway by viewing the countdown in the raffle copter widget below.

The demand for the Galaxy S3 is off the charts. And that’s why we’re giving it away! All you have to do (yes, you), is give us a bit of social following! Check out the directions below. The more social love, the more entry tickets go into the draw for you!

What you have to do

We don’t want to make this difficult for you guys (and gals). All you have to do is follow the simple directions below, and you will be in the running for a brand spanking new Galaxy S3! Likely to carry a $700 USD price tag, we will ship what many consider to be the best Android phone of 2012 to you – no matter where you are in this world!

Each task earns you a certain amount of entries in the draw, complete all tasks and receive 9 entries into the draw. It’s that easy, Good luck Everyone & to the lucky winner, please send us a picture showing off your new phone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We are all Android – all the time. We will leave no Android device untouched, no ROM untested, no app not reviewed. And, as we have an international audience, we wanted to make sure that you get the chance to participate!

Check out our Samsung Galaxy S3 page for the most comprehensive coverage of the Samsung Galaxy S3!

Remember, if you have a spare second let us know how we’re doing, and what you’d like to see from us! Good luck everyone!


This article, Samsung Galaxy S3 International Giveaway! , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


New line of Philips entry-level ICS tablets to use MIPS processors

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 06:47 AM PDT


Philips is a Dutch consumer electronics company that doesn't exactly have a reputation to maintain as an Android manufacturer. But that did not seem to stop Philips officials from recently announcing a new line of entry-level 7" Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich tablets bound (at least for now) for the Chinese market.

The pricing and release dates are yet to be announced, as is the availability of the new line of tablets in other markets, but what caught our attention was the fact that Philips engineers have decided not to use an ARM processor or an x86 one (like 99% of all other Android manufacturers), opting for a low-power MIPS processor instead. Android currently offers some support for MIPS processors, but even better integration with the architecture has been promised for the near future by Google.

It's likely that this barebones integration of MIPS processor support in the Android OS is the reason why Philips has announced a projected battery life of just 4-5 hours, despite the fact that MIPS processors are notorious for operating with low-power requirements. It should also be noted that tablets using MIPS processors are currently unable to run all the Android apps out there.

Unfortunately, there isn't much more to report about the new line of Philips Android 4.0 tablets, but we do know that resolutions will vary between 1024 x 600 and 800 x 480, depending on the model. Support for MP4, H.264, and WMV was mentioned, but that's not out of the ordinary for a tablet, as I'm sure you'll agree. It reigns obvious from both the MIPS processor and the low pixel density that the new line of Philips slates targets the low-end sector of the tablet market. This is exactly the reason why the 7-inch tabs will be released in China first.

What do you guys think of a tablet that features a pixel density of just 134 ppi (7″ screen with 800 x 480 resolution)? At what price should such an entry-tablet be launched? Drop us a line in the comment section below!


This article, New line of Philips entry-level ICS tablets to use MIPS processors , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Why we need net neutrality: TeliaSonera to charge mobile users for VoIP calls

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 06:29 AM PDT

Network neutrality, also known as net neutrality or Internet neutrality, has been an intensely debated issue in the media over the last few years. For those of you who haven't heard about the concept, net neutrality opposes the restriction by ISPs or governments of the consumers' free access to the Internet.

In other words, a network neutrality law would prevent your Internet provider from charging you extra for accessing, say, YouTube, than it would charge you for visiting Facebook or some other random site. As the image above says, all bits are (or should be) created equal.

Unfortunately, net neutrality has not been enforced in law form in most parts of the world, at least as far as we here at Android Authority know. This means that, at least in theory, an Internet provider can decide at any moment to throttle access to specific websites or charge users extra for the “privilege” of accessing a specific Internet destination.

If you thought that no Internet provider or carrier would dare to ignore the principles of net neutrality, we have some bad news for you today. TeliaSonera, one of the largest carriers in Europe, has decided to charge its Spanish users extra for using Skype and other VoIP (Voice over IP) services, starting from next month.

"We have been early in introducing tiered pricing of data, lower costs for data roaming and recently openly communicated that we will start to charge for mobile VoIP." announced Lars Nyberg, the company's CEO, taking pretty much the whole world by surprise.

TeliaSonera's decision will affect its customers first and foremost, but, in the long haul, it could create a dangerous precedent that can potentially affect mobile customers from all over the world. Just think about the ripples this move will create when carriers worldwide realize that they can get away with charging for VoIP calls!

The "mobile VoIP offer" will be launched in Spain next month, while Swedish mobile users should prepare to pay extra for VoIP services starting later this summer. "The customers will have the opportunity to either choose a subscription which includes mobile VoIP or one without. When the need arises, this service can then be bought separately”,  explained Nyberg.

TeliaSonera's CEO also explained the “reasons” that led to this change, saying that "if all our customers suddenly decided to switch over to making internet calls, and we charged them only for the data traffic usage, we would lose about 70% of our revenue." So, if it’s all about revenue, why not charge more for data traffic usage, I might ask, without hoping to ever get an answer.

How about it, folks, do you think that we will soon see other carriers trying to enforce this policy as well? Also, would you ever consider paying extra to use VoIP on your mobile device? Hit us with a comment and let us know your opinions!

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This article, Why we need net neutrality: TeliaSonera to charge mobile users for VoIP calls , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


HTC says no to QWERTY Android phones, G2 owners put a sad face

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 05:01 AM PDT

With top-tier smartphones sporting physical QWERTY keyboards becoming a rarity these days, we can add HTC to the list of phone manufacturers that won't be offering a new keyboard-equipped Android smartphone anytime soon.

Speaking during a press event in Seattle, HTC creative director Claude Zellweger explained the company's stance on creating QWERTY phones. "As a company, the QWERTY keyboard we're moving away from in general", he said. This can be translated as the company's reluctance to go against the current, with more and more manufacturers focusing solely on producing touchscreen phones, some without physical buttons at all.

Zellweger added that "putting too much effort into that [making QWERTY phones] would take away from our devices."  Hence, HTC will instead be focusing on improving the on-screen keyboard on its phones, instead of spending their resources on creating new hardware designs.

Coming from a company whose grand strategy is to produce thinner phones, this shouldn't really come as a surprise. Plus, there's no denying the fact that those QWERTY keyboards really add some bulk to a phone's figure. While HTC has released some memorable slide-out QWERTY phones in the past (going back to its Windows Mobile days), one of its most popular Android offerings was the HTC Desire Z, otherwise known as T-Mobile G2 in the US. The slide-out keyboard of the G2 may have been praised, but the phone's 14.16mm body and 180 g weight won't fare well in today's smartphone landscape. The company's potentially last QWERTY phone was the ill-fated HTC Cha Cha, a.k.a. the Facebook phone.

But wait, there's still a possibility that HTC will release a QWERTY Android phone in the future. Zellweger said that they know there's still a "diehard community" out there longing for the company's next QWERTY offering. Apparently, HTC will take a wait-and-see approach for the technology to mature, so that a good trade-off between including a physical keyboard and making the phone thin and compact can be reached.

Do you think HTC is making the right decision or shooting itself in the foot by abandoning QWERTY phones?


This article, HTC says no to QWERTY Android phones, G2 owners put a sad face , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.